How Many Attacking Midfielders Does Pellegrini Want As Hammers Linked With Pastore?

Submitted by nevillenixon on Sat, 02/06/2018 - 14:18

The dark shadow that descended over the London Stadium last year currently seems to be a thing of the past, with record season ticket sales, a 'proper' manager and the prospect of exciting talents arriving in E20.

Of course with all the talk of new arrivals there will also be talk of who will be leaving and for how much, The Sun and Sky Sports (one of the same!) have embarked on a relentless 'Arnie to Mourinho' campaign, however the devil is always in the detail and the details emerging are conflicting to say the least. The Murdoch media machine has attempted to imply that Arnoutovic would 'love' to sign for Mourinho because of the time they spent together at Inter Milan, only thing is Marko Arnautović endured a torrid time while the Manchester United manager was in charge, Mourinho described Arnautović as a 'big child' and too inconsistant and that he would never make the grade, we will have more on this topic on Monday.

A £17 Million move for Paris Saint Germain playmaker Javier Pastore is the latest rumour to emerge, with PSG apparently having to balance their books due to financial fare play rules, they have completely ignored FFP in the past and it is intruiging that they have suddenly begun to comply. Whatever the reason for Pastore's availability the fact remains he is a class act and at 28 years old is at his peak, the only fly in the ointment being his injury record last season, he would represent a significant investment and West Ham know only too well the price of signing injury prone players! The recent flurry of transfer activity has seen Hammers' chances of reaching the Europa Cup become a real possibility which is reflected by the changing of the odds from potential relegation candidates to stylish Euro giants, promo betfred have all the latest odds.

Manuel Pellegrini has a penchant for playing a version of 4-2-2-2 setting his teams up to 'overwhelm' the opposition with fast wing play feeding two strikers, one of which is usually deployed in the 'hole'. If Pastore was signed he could form a devastating partnership in midield with Manuel Lanzini, the combination would then be able to feed Arnoutovic and probably Javier Hernandez which in turn would tick the 'little un big un' requirement for playing two 'up top'. Unfortunately the impending arrival of Pastore means the chances of retaining Jaoa Mario for another season look very slender, which is a real pity, he took to the Premier League really well and as such would not be a risk as he s not an unknown quantity. Perhaps Inter might allow him to return on loan for another season, one would imaging it is the only way he will reurn to the London Stadium as his purchase price would be too rich for West Ham given how little money there is available to spend.

So where does all this leave Andy Carroll, Jordan Hugill, Robert Snodgrass, Sam Byram and probably Winston Reid? Probably a lot closer to the exit door! - Ed

Comments

have the word "GONE" written over their heads. We've likely seen the last of Antonio as well, possibly Adrian, and Kouyate too. The worry is that Anie and Manu could be gone next season, leaving us to ply our trade with untested new appointments. I wonder what betfred's odds are on that.

Let him go......as for who we are being linked with whether we get them or not just a few weeks after one of the worst seasons in living memory for west ham on and off the pitch I already have a renewed sense of optimism for the future.....

I too am optimistic that stability will return to the Q E S. Though these rumours about Arnie are a grave concern ,on Mario im not convinced ,imo he only came good in the last couple of games ,of the players that are destined for the door the big K is a certainty as is Reid Snoddy was a big mistake and as for Ant ?well im afraid he to could go he is to injury prone besides he always seemed to me to have a problem with his breathing after bursts of speed .
Another point surely Nobbs will keep the bench warm so who will be named captain ?bit of a puzler you cant have a skipper whos not getting games

I will be very surprised if Noble is still in the starting line up let alone still captain,under Pellegrini.However,the club cannot afford to move on players like Noble,Kouyate that are good squad players and that is something Westham have always been thin on the ground on.We have always filled our squad with youngsters to make up the numbers ,that are just not good enough,so it doesn't make sense to move these players on.What we need is 5 or 6 quality additions to go straight into the first team...A right back,left back, centre back,holding midfielder,box to box midfielder ,right winger.
For me the only players I would move on is Byram,Carroll(only because of his injury proneness),possibly the same for Antonio who is injury prone and Reid and Hugill
Watched Rice play in the recent friendly internationals for Ireland, he has really impressed me,Martin O'neil has used him as a holding midfielder and I think he looks the business in that role,not the finished article, but very accomplished.Definitely a future captain for both Westham and Ireland.I think Pellegrini would be foolish to sell Oxford without checking him out first , the player is quality,and I hope we keep him.
Adrian is good enough with a decent defence in front of him,but he is certainly not priority to replace,although I wouldn't be surprised if Pellegrini does.The key areas Pellegrini will be targetting is in defence and midfield ,68 goals conceded last season says it all really.

Someone was hoping that we'd have a home game at the QES to start the season. Doesn't look like it: Liverpool away it is, according to a leaked EPL opening fixtures list. It'll be the third straight season that we've drawn a top four side away in the first match and the fourth or fifth straight seaon that we've drawn a top four side either home or away in the opener. Let's hope the leak was a fake (there have been some), but to this point the EPL hasn't denied it.

apparently his ego is massive. drives around Liverpool with GK1 plates and makes a big scene all the time. I think it was Haman who said he thought the champs league final crying and stuff was all about Karius making a scene.

OK, then I start to call him Dropius. The first mistake was so bad (should have gone left!) that I thought he actually scored the goal himself by throwing it into Benzema's leg. The second mistake --- WHOAH! Worse than Rob Green at the World Cup.

And now I hear poo fans are demanding a replay, lol,Can we replay the 2006 FA Cup final because,Scaloni had something wrong with his head when he failed to clear the ball properly, leading to Steven Gerrard smashing home a leveller ;)

OK, then I start to call him Dropius. The first mistake was so bad (should have gone left!) that I thought he actually scored the goal himself by throwing it into Benzema's leg. The second mistake --- WHOAH! Worse than Rob Green at the World Cup.

Totally feed up with difficult starts to the season. last year away at Man U (not to mention the athletics debacle), previously away to City, Arsenal etc. Why do we always get a top six side away from home? It cant be random? And now Liverpool... beggars belief!

Very Interesting but I don't know if this is right or not or just an idea someone has dreamed up, but according to them, there is an FA ruling that each premier league team have to have 4 British players in their 25 man squad over 23 I don't know if this is correct because if is we are going to struggle what with all these new transfer rumours Italian and Brazilian players unless one of them is Wiltshire or Fredricks

I like your thinking Nev but the one big problem is David Sullivan. He owns West Ham and makes the decisions. He loves a bargain, hates to pay upfront, prefers loans before buying and if Man U offer £50m for Arnie he will take it to finance buying new Players. Pelligrini may want 4 or 5 players but imo will only get 1 or 2 of the players he wants as Sullivan once again makes a pigs ear of negotiations and we lose the other 3 or 4 players Pelligrini is after.
Every season has been the same since Sullivan and Gold took over and I still see no difference in the new season ahead!

The Fredericks deal might happen, but I think the Marlon and Anderson deals are far-fetched. A deal for Pastore looks very unlikely (it has all the hallmarks of a Sullivan excuse: "we agreed a fee with PSG but unfortunately the player wanted too much in wages"). Wilshire will be looking attractive to Sullivan, and they'd take Mario on loan for another season if they can get it. I don't see much happening except in the "buyer's bargain" range. Alternatively we will bring in a couple of significant signings but sell Arnautovic and Lanzini.

sadly, i think thats it. we're all excited about the 'big name' manager coming in, but the transfer deals look like same old, same old. free one here, then the big names get mentioned, a loan comes in, big names mentioned again….and season starts with our freebie and a loanee.

If that is the case Bondsy there will be more fan discontent,and we will see a repeat of last season,because most fans have had a gutful .What role is the director of football to play,does he select transfer targets,sort out negotiations or what ? Sullivan needs to let Pellegrini and Husilas(dof) just get on with their jobs,tell them £75m ? is what they have to spend and leave them to it,he needs to stay out.Pellegrini and Husilas are no idiots ,they know the transfer market,they know the number of players they need and they will know how to negotiate accordingly.

I'm afraid Pelligrini and Husilas will only be allowed to identify the players they think they need and as always with this Board it's Sullivan first to negotiate followed by Brady to agree terms for wages and she will also say whether we can afford the player or not. Sullivan did say he would change about four weeks ago but do leopards change their spots?
Pelligrini has told Sullivan who he wants and basically gone on a three week holiday to Chile, guess whose negotiating three deals at the moment? As most seem to think Fredrick's looks the most likely from Fulham but don't be surprised if Sullivan fails to get him due to not wanting to pay up front.

Fredricks on a freebie announced last night. Agents fee paid and wages agreed for a four year deal. That;s the first one. Rumour has it Pastore is next? We wait and see! more than likely Jack Wiltshire though imo as another freebie if he does not sign a new contract at Arsenal.
Fredricks was an excellent Championship player with Fulham, comes to us as a Sullivan cheapie freebie and untried in the top level. A typical West Ham/Sullivan buy, risky but maybe a risk worth taking this time.